(Photo: Facebook/United Congregational Church)United Congregational Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Posted on 12/08/2016 8:59:07 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A Christian congregation in Connecticut that dates back to the 1600s has sold its church building to a Muslim group that plans to turn the building into a mosque.
(Photo: Facebook/United Congregational Church)United Congregational Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut
According to The Wall Street Journal, the historic United Congregational Church will sell its 1920s Georgian-Revival style church building to the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center for a price of $1 million.
The church dates back to the Colonial Era, when it was founded in 1695 as the Ecclesiastical Society of Stratfield. In 1916, the congregation merged with another congregation and officially became the United Congregational Church. Although the congregation once totalled over 3,000 members when the main church building was constructed, WSJ reports that the congregation total has dwindled to just 300.
Although the congregation has sold the church building, it will still remain a part of the community. The United Congregational Church plans to temporarily rent space at another building in the town until it can find another permanent location to buy. The two ministries will also form a partnership to run a soup kitchen and homeless shelter that will be located at the Islamic center.
"This is much bigger than a sale of a building. It's about healing wounds. It's about building peace. It's about making friends," the Rev. Sara Smith said at a press conference on Monday. "It is about showing a witness to the world that the children of Abraham and everybody else included can work together, can live together in respect and dignity. Isn't that what all of our faiths are about?"
Ahmed Ebrahim, who heads the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center, told WSJ that the two factors that led his organization to purchase the historic church building were that it's already zoned for religious use and has the space needed for the 1,000 Muslim families in the Bridgeport area that expect to worship and pray at the mosque.
"It's a perfect fit for our needs," Ebrahim explained, adding that the outgoing Christian congregation will help prepare the building by removing the cross from the altar.
"It's sad," Ellen Carter, a member of the United Congregational Church, told WSJ. "On the other hand, it's necessary, and we are happy it's again going to be used as a house of worship."
Similar things are happening in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, where the closed Immaculate Conception B.V.M. Catholic Church was sold to the United American Muslim Society of Brooklyn for nearly $1.8 million in October.
The sale of the Catholic church comes after the congregation merged with the Queen of the Universe Parish in 2014. The church remained open as a worship facility until Jan. 1, the LevitttownNow.com reports.
My ancestors were part of that church from its earliest days. Christian Congregationalists merged with the E&R and became the United Church of Christ, which is quite mis-named. The greatest threat to our country from within is the incremental influence of Islam and the UCC doesn’t get it. Rev. Wright and Berry Lynn were ordained by these folks. Quite a contrast from the Founding Fathers to the idiocracy of this congregation.
We don’t have as many ships in Pearl Harbor now as we used to, back during its World War II peak. I guess we ought to just sell it to someone. Maybe the Chinese would give us a few million for it. At least it’ll still be a naval base! /s
I can’t help wondering exactly why a historic building such as this is not protected as a historical monument? There are many buildings and homes much younger than this church (at least in my city) that are deserving of government protection due to historical importance. Why has this beautiful little church been left out?
Christianity my friend, it’s gots to go ...
This wouldn’t have happened if the church had a strong member base. Its not like the Muslims came in and forced the Christians out at gunpoint. Christians need to look at ourselves to see why there no longer is a “church on every corner” and why a huge chunk of the American population no longer goes to church. Way too many churches aren’t offering anything more than feel-good liberalism.
The sacred becomes the profane.
Just part of the fundamental transformation. This building ceased being a church when the congragation was led by a lesbian.
The United Congregational Church sounds like it is really Unitarian. Isn’t there some tenet of Islam that decrees a mosque will be built on a place of victory? The Congregationalists have just given the Muslims a victory. And i don’t understand how anyone of that church could believe that the building will be used for worship. Just more self-hating Americans giving in to political correctness.
Christianity my friend, it’s gots to go ...
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They don’t understand that they can never take God way. He just “is”. My family is from Russia and the government DID take God away, but it only made Him stronger.
Yup, most of the Congregational churches went way left years back, some went Unitarian. There’s very few autonomous Congregational churches left which is exactly what they were supposed to be. No hierarchy. Self governing. Wherever 2-3 are gathered....
NOOOOO PLEASE GOD NO!!! Rather it go up in a blaze of fire than to it be made a mosque... watch them tear !!
Tear it down
“The love of money is the ROOT OF ALL EVIL.”
Another launching pad for the Jihadists. - Did no one
speak up for demolishing it and selling the results of the
demolition to a construction company?
As Billy Graham says,”Go to church Sunday!”
Thank God for delivering us from the damned CLINTONS!
“On the other hand, it’s necessary, and we are happy it’s again going to be used as a house of worship.”
These people are delusional.
Really; it is now a safehouse to stockpile weapons for use against the infidels. At least they can conduct surveillance uninterrupted from the barbecue place across the street...
This is exciting for the leftists that have infested the so called Christian churches. This is their end game all along. Not to liberalize but to destroy Christianity.
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